Loading-machine.



110,785,957. PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905. F. R. KENT.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

P. R. KENT. LOADING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

aumnfoz F. R. KENT.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILE-D APR. 4, 1904.

PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 785,957. v PATENTED, MAR. 28, 1905.

P.R.KENT. LOADING' MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1904.

-4 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

UNITED STATES Patented. March 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOADING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,957, dated March28, 1905. Application filed April 4,1904. Serial No. 201,622.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK R. KENT, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Montvale, in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading-h/lachines,of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of apparatus ofnovel construction designed chiefly for loading coal in the mine intothe car, thereby lessening the cost of the commodity as delivered uponthe cars for transportation. The machine may likewise be used toadvantage for loading coke in the yard or for loading sand, gravel, orany commodity required to be loaded into a carrier for transportation.

The apparatus comprises a truck preferably construct-ed to run upon atrack, a framework mounted upon the truck, so as to be turned about avertical axis to any angular position, an elevator or conveyer mountedupon the framework and arranged to take up the commodity and deliver thesame into the car or other carrier for transportation, gathering meansfor drawing the commodity upon the elevator or conveyer, and actuatingmeans for operating the elevator and gathering means and adapted whenrequired either to advance the machine to the work or move it therefrom.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

WVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a perspective view of a loadingmachine embodying the invention. Fig.2 is a central longitudinal section of the machine on the line 3 3 ofFig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a transversesection on the line 4 L of Fig. 3L Fig. 5 is a detail perspective viewof a modified form of gathering means.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The truck upon which the working parts are mounted may be of anysubstantial construction and comprises the platform 1 andsupporting-wheels 2. Wings 3 project laterally from opposite sides ofthe truck and are preferably arranged in the plane of the platform, andeach is provided with a curved slot 4, toothedupon one edge, as shown at5, to provide a rack to assist in swinging the framework orsuperstructure from side to side, as may be required. The curved racks 5may be of any accustomed construction; but the formation illustrated ispreferred, since the slots 4 admit of the escape of any material fallingupon the Wings and prevent choking of the racks, which would interferematerially with the operation of the means employed for the angularadjustment of the machine. A rack is also provided upon the back part ofthe truck, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The framework or superstructure consists of a bed 6, standards 7, and aforward and downward extension 8, provided at its extremity withstandards 9, corresponding to the standards 7, said framework beingmounted upon the platform 1, so as to turn freely about a vertical axisrepresented by the pivot connection 10. This framework or superstructureis of substantial formation and of such design as to avoid a cumbersomeappearance. A vertical shaft 11 is arranged near one end of the bed andis provided at its lower end with a pinion 12, which is adapted tointermesh with the cog-teeth of any one of the racks 5, and at its upperend with a hand-wheel 13. Upon turning the shaft 11 in one direction orthe other the framework may be swung about the vertical axis 10 to anyangular position within the range of adjustment provided by the severalracks to suit the relative positions of the pile and the carrier,whereby the commodity may be taken up from the pile and delivered intothe carrier. When moving the framework from one rack to the other, thepinion 12 is disconnected from the shaft 11 and the latter is raised toclear the part I separating one rack from the next. It is to beunderstood that any method may be adapted to admit of the pinion andshaft moving from one rack to the other when required. The engine 14Lfor operating the working parts of the machine is mounted upon the bed 6and may be of any type selected for the purpose. This engine is beltedor otherwise connected to a counter-shaft 15, journaled upon the bed 6at any convenient point.

The elevator or conveyer is of usual construction and comprises theframe 16 and endless carrier 17, the latter consisting of side chainsand buckets. The frame 16 is of trough shape, and the upper portion ofits side pieces slightly flare, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the lowerportion is closed, so as to form a housing for the lower portion of theendless carrier. The elevator or conveyer comprises an approximatelyhorizontal portion and a forwardly and downwardly inclined portion, thelatter being adapted to receive the commodity from the gatheringmechanism and the horizontal portion extending over the truck, so as todeliver the commodity either in the rear or to one side thereof. A chute18 is arranged at the delivery end of the elevator or conveyer to directthe commodity or material into the car or carrier. A chute 19 isarranged at the front end of the elevator or conveyer, and its bottommay be solid, as indicated in Fig. 5, or provided with slots oropenings. as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to screen thematerial simultaneously with the gathering operation. The chute 19 isconnected to the frame 16 of the elevator to admit of its lower endbeing raised and lowered to meet existing conditions.

The gathering mechanism may comprise either forks 20 or hoe-blades 21,according to the nature of the material being worked or loaded. Thestems or rods 22 of the parts 20 or 21 are passed through guides 23 andare connected to crank portions 24 of a compound crank-shaft 25,arranged transversely of the frame 16 and above the endless carrier. Theguide-eyes 23 are formed with or connected to a rod 26, arrangedtransversely of the frame 16 and in advance of the crank-shaft 25. Inthe operation of the machine the gatherers 20 or 21 are carried forwardover the bottom of the chute.19 and are lowered into the commodity andare then dragged upward and rearward over the chute carrying a quantityof the commodity, which is delivered in the rear of the chute 19 uponthe conveyor or elevator and is carried thereby to the chute 18, bymeans of which it is directed into the car or other form of carrierarranged for reception of the commodity or material.

A counter shaft 15 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 27, which isconnected by sprocket chain 28 with a correspondii'ig sprocket-wheel 29,secured to the outer end rear end of the endless carrier 17.Asprocketwheel 30, secured to the outer end of the lower or front shaftor journal of said endless carrier, is connected by sprocket-chain 31with a companion sprocket-wheel 32, mounted upon the crank-shaft 25, andby this means power is transmitted from the endless carrier to thegathering means. The countershaft 15 is belted or otherwise connected toan axle of the truck so as either to advance or withdraw the machine, asmay be required. As shown, a sprocket wheel 33 is mounted upon thecounter-shaft 15 and is connected by sprocketchain 34110 acorrespondingspocket-wheel 35, carried by an axle of the truck. A clutch 36 ismovable upon the counter-shaft 15 and is adapted to cause either one ofthe sprocketwheels 27 or 33 to rotate therewith according as theoperating mechanism is to be run or the machine to be propelled eithertoward the pile or away therefrom. The clutch mechanism 36 may be of anyapproved type and is adapted to be operated by means of theshipper-lever 37.

WV hen the machine is to be used for loading coke from the yard into acar, said machine is equipped with forks 20 and with an open bottomchute 19. WVhen the commodity to be loaded is coal, sand, gravel, orthelike, the machine is equipped with blades 21 and with a chute 19,having an imperforate or solid bottom, as indicated in Fig. 5. When themachine is in operation and is required to advance the chute 19 andgathering mechanism into the pile, the clutch 36 is moved out ofengagement with the sprocket-wheel 27 and into engagement with thesprocket-wheel 33, thereby throw ing the gathering and elevatingmechanisms out of gear and the propelling mechanism into gear. After themachine has been properly adjusted the propelling mechanism is unshippedand the operating mechanism thrown into action, whereby the commodity ormaterial is dragged over the chute 19 and delivered upon the endlesscarrier and elevated thereby to the chute 18, down which it gravitatesinto the car or other carrier for transportation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In aloadingmachine, the combination of a truck, wings extended laterallytherefrom in opposite directions, each wing having a curved slot toothedupon one edge, a frame mounted upon the truck and pivotally connectedthereto for angular adjustment about a vertical axis and provided withelevating mechanism, a shaft journaled to said frame, and a pinionattached to the shaft and adapted to mesh with the toothed edge ofeither of the aforesaid slots, substantially as set forth.

2. In a loading-machine, the combination of a truck, a frame mountedupon the truck and pivoted thereto for angular adjustment about of thejournal or shaft supporting the upper a vertical axis, cooperating meansbetween the said frame and truck to effect a turning connections intogear either to operate the IQ of the frame, an elevator carried by saidelevator or to propel the machine, substanframe, a chute and gatheringmeans at the tially as specified. receiving end of the elevator, acounter-shaft, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in 5 a motorconnected to said counter-shaft for presence of two Witnesses.

driving the same, connections between said FRANK R. KENT. [L. s.]counter-shaft and the elevator and between said counter-shaft and anaxle of the truck, and a clutch device for throwing either set ofWitnesses W. R. CARTER, J. W. COMPTON.

